Poor indoor air quality can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, headache, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or other breathing problems or who have allergies may have severe reactions.
Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion, dizziness, and nausea. Because many illnesses can cause these symptoms, diagnosing sick building syndrome is difficult.
Poor indoor air quality can cause health effects that are similar to those of common cold or influenza. These symptoms include itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, dizziness, and fatigue. They're often short-term and easily treatable.
Household air pollution exposure leads to noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
Even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms such as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath. These symptoms should go away when air quality improves.
Indoor Air and Dust Buildup
Another way to tell whether you have poor indoor air quality is if you see dust buildup around your home and collect around air vents. You may not spot buildup around areas you regularly clean, but keep a lookout for excess dust around your home. Also, check your air vents for dust buildup.
Respiratory Disease
Air pollution can affect lung development and is implicated in the development of emphysema, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increases in asthma prevalence and severity are linked to urbanization and outdoor air pollution.
Indoor air pollutants are particles that are found in the air inside of buildings. In healthcare settings, the four major indoor air pollutants are asbestos, biological pollutants, carbon monoxide, and emissions from cookstoves and heaters. Each of these pollutants can have serious health effects.
Ventilation and shading can help control indoor temperatures. Ventilation also helps remove or dilute indoor airborne pollutants coming from indoor sources. This reduces the level of contaminants and improves indoor air quality (IAQ).
Effects of Air Pollution
If you are in good health, air pollution may cause symptoms like: irritated eyes, increased mucus production in the nose or throat, coughing, and.
Short-term exposure to fine particles in the air can aggravate lung disease, trigger asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and may also increase the risk of respiratory infections. Scientists have also linked short-term exposures to heart attacks and abnormal heartbeats.
Portable air cleaners and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollution; however, they cannot remove all pollutants from the air.
A 2022 study found that devices with HEPA filters are reasonably successful at filtering out airborne COVID-19. However, other experts note that air purifiers won't clean contaminated surfaces and can't prevent people from contracting COVID-19 if they inhale it from an infected person close by.
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the area.
Tobacco smoke. Household products and pesticides. Gases such as radon and carbon monoxide. Materials used in the building such as asbestos, formaldehyde and lead.
Introduction. The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
Cardiovascular disease: Air pollution can increase the risk of both heart attacks and stroke. Lung cancer: In 2013, the World Health Organization determined that particle pollution can cause lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.
Consider Purchasing An Indoor Air Quality Monitor
If you want to monitor your indoor air quality proactively, you can invest in an air quality monitor. These devices constantly check the indoor air quality and provide feedback about the levels of different pollutants.
While a humidifier can add moisture to the air, it is not designed to remove pollutants or allergens. If you want to improve the air quality in your home or office, an air purifier is a better choice.